Penetrating Damp
Penetrating damp is the term given to damp which occurs as a result of water infiltrating through an external wall and into the interior walls of a building. It is one of the most common causes of damp within the industry.
What Is Penetrating Damp?
Penetrating damp is the term given to damp which occurs as a result of water infiltrating through an external wall and into the interior walls of a building. It is one of the most common causes of damp within the industry.
What Causes Penetrating Damp?
Penetrating damp often occurs on buildings of a certain age, although it is possible to occur within properties of all ages. It is caused due to structural defects on the exterior wall of a build which results in water being able to ingress into the interior walls of a structure. These structural defects often occur in the form of degradation where a wall becomes porous enough to allow water ingress to pass through and damage the inside of the property. In locations which are more prone to wet weather, penetrating damp is likely to be more common, although other factors such as structural leaks or flood are also able to be a cause of penetrating damp.
How To Repair Penetrating Damp?
Once it has been identified that your property is indeed suffering from penetrating damp, the first step of repair is to eliminate the source of the water ingress. Once this has successfully been conducted, a waterproofing solution is required to be applied to the masonry or brickwork which has been experiencing the problem. In addition, an internal aspect of the building affected will likewise have to be addressed such as removing any damaged plaster and replacing with specialist damp resistant plaster. If timbers have been affected, similar treatment is required where they are either treated or fully replaced and then protected. Any black mold found due to penetrating damp will likewise need to be cleaned and treated.
How To Repair Penetrating Damp?
Once it has been identified that your property is indeed suffering from penetrating damp, the first step of repair is to eliminate the source of the water ingress. Once this has successfully been conducted, a waterproofing solution is required to be applied to the masonry or brickwork which has been experiencing the problem. In addition, an internal aspect of the building affected will likewise have to be addressed such as removing any damaged plaster and replacing with specialist damp resistant plaster. If timbers have been affected, similar treatment is required where they are either treated or fully replaced and then protected. Any black mold found due to penetrating damp will likewise need to be cleaned and treated.
How Serious Is Penetrating Damp?
Like many structural repair issues, penetrating damp is the type of problem which only become more severe over time if left untreated. Even if the damp has not yet penetrated the entire of the exterior wall or reached the interior walls, penetrating damp can cause substantial damage to a property. For example, it can lead to further damp related issues such as wet and dry rot, musty smells, damp plasterwork, loss of insultation properties, frost damage and more. The severity of penetrating damp is, however, dependent on the situation at hand given that each property is likely to be suffering from penetrating damp due to different causes and to different extents. For further information regarding the damp currently present on your property, please feel free to get in contact with our specialist team who are here to answer any queries you may have.
What Does Penetrating Damp Look Like?
There are certain elements which can be looked out for when trying to identify penetrating damp. Most obviously, penetrating damp can be identified when there are damp stains on the external walls of a building. In the same vein, damp patches on the interior walls and ceiling are likewise telling signs that your structure is suffering from penetrating damp. If you can see that your plaster is wet and crumbly, this can also be a sign of penetrating damp. Spores or black mold that are isolated to one area are another common sign that you may have some penetrating damp on your hands.
More dramatically, if your building has drips and puddles of water or similar wet substances, you may also want to investigate whether the structure is suffering from this form of damp. Penetrating damp, although common, can be quite challenging to identify. For further information regarding the identification of whether your build is experiencing penetrating damp, please feel free to get in contact with our friendly and expert team who are here to provide you with a free consultation and quotation today!
How To Prevent Penetrating Damp?
There are certain preventative actions which can be taken in order to avoid the occurrence of penetrating damp as much as possible. For example, it is firstly important to ensure that your home is being regularly aired out especially if you do not make use of heating often. In the same vein, central heating is very effective at chasing penetrating damp away as heat is a powerful deterrent of damp. Treating small signs of damp as they are occurring is a useful method to prevent further damp from occurring such as penetrative damp. For example, feeling your walls will allow you to identify damp before it was progressed to the stage where it is identifiable via sight and smell. When it comes to furniture, it is useful to make sure an air gap sits between your furniture and your walls – this will more easily allow air to circulate freely. Lastly, ensure your washing machine and tumble drier are externally vented as this will keep further moisture at bay.
Benefits Of Repairing Penetrating Damp?
Untreated damp can cause a large variety of problems which only become worse as time goes by. Repairing penetrating damp is not only positive in the sense that you are ridding yourself of the problem at hand, but likewise is able to remove the consequential issues which arise due to this form of damp. Repairing penetrating damp is able to get rid of those potent smells which come along with damp and mold. In addition, this form of repair is able to improve the appearance of your home given that damp proofing walls prevents dark patches of damp and mold from unwantedly creeping up on you. A property experience penetrating damp is moreover very likely to decrease in value, meaning that the repair of such will in the same vein increase the value of your build. A significantly more serious issue which repairing damp can prevent, is the structural problems which may occur if damp is not treated.
Send Us A Message
Contact Info
Call Us
0300 030 1822
Our Email
Our Location
45-46 The Arches, Alma Road,
Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1QZ
Working Hours
Mon-Fri: 8:30AM-5PM